Malloy Unveils Storm Report
Photo by Steve Kotchko
Posted 1/16/12
Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy went to Simsbury, one of the towns hardest hit by the October snowstorm and Tropical Storm Irene, to unveil his official recommendations for improvements that would make the state and its public utilities better prepared to handle natural disasters in the future.
Earlier that same week, the Malloy-appointed “Two Storm Panel” that investigated both storms issued its own lengthy report, including 82 recommendations for action. Some of those were incorporated into the Governor’s report.
Malloy’s package won’t raise many eyebrows. Most of the proposals are items discussed during and in the weeks after the October snowstorm.
One major item will need legislative approval. The Governor favors legislation that would authorize the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to develop performance standards for all utilities when they respond to emergencies, storms, and natural disasters.
These new standards would include planning, hazard mitigation (i.e. branches on power lines), staffing levels, equipment, response times, and recovery efforts. Failure to meet the standards would result in penalties for utilities. Malloy does not spell out what those penalties might be.
The Governor also wants the state to run what he calls “a real-time exercise” statewide that would test Connecticut’s updated ability to respond to emergencies. Malloy said this big-time drill could cost several hundred thousand dollars, but he’d like it to take place before next September.
Tree trimming has been a major topic in the post-storms discussion, and the Governor said he will see to it that the state Department of Transportation (DOT) is given an increase of $1 million annually for tree maintenance efforts to improve road safety and protect power lines. At present, that budget is about $500,000. The Governor will ask PURA to open an official docket soon to look into the tree trimming plans of the utilities to assess what’s being done now to minimize future storm damage
Many citizens have asked that the utilities be ordered to put more power lines underground to lessen the impact of falling trees and limbs on the electricity delivery system. Utilities say that is very expensive. Malloy does not mention the issue in his recommendations. However, he suggests a pilot program for so-called microgrids in city centers.
Microgrids are localized electricity generating and storage units normally connected to the general power grid. In power outages or emergencies, they could be disconnected from the grid and would operate independently with the help of fuel cells and other technologies. The idea? Even if major power outages occur, vital city or town centers would still have power. Area residents would be able to find gas stations, food markets, pharmacies and public facilities open for their use.
Several recommendations in the Governor’s report focus on improving the relationships among state agencies, town governments, and the utilities to creating a more cohesive system that can operate efficiently in storm response. There was heavy criticism during the two big storms that despite assurances, utilities gave local officials wrong information, poor information, or no information at all, on where and when power would be restored.
“The new regulations that PURA will implement for utility companies will provide a clear incentive for proper preparation and timely repairs,” Malloy said. “The improved training exercises will help our state and local governments to better respond in a time of crisis.”
Malloy conceded he has not priced out the cost of his recommendations, but said that analysis is underway with details coming some time down the road
All that said, the Governor offered a bit of verbal finger crossing about Connecticut weather. “The impact of last year’s intense, record-breaking weather on our state—structurally, financially, and emotionally—is something I hope we don’t have to experience again anytime soon,” he said.
Though Malloy’s budget plan with its tax hikes, state agency mergers, and battle for concessions from state workers, will define his first year in office for many State Capitol observers, handling bad weather comes in a strong second. Malloy had to deal with a spate of snowstorms that produced a record snowfall, then the tropical storm, and finally the freak October nor’easter.
Follow Steve Kotchko on Twitter for news and insider tidbits on politics and government: @CRN_News